Did my first Menz PL today at 3pm, i'ts 10 now and it's still hasn't dried. Most has finally hazed slightly, but i'ts still totally gummy, no powder. It's not ready to come off. Prep was perfect. I polished with Menz 4500. Car is in garage, temp was 62 degrees, humidity 54%. Easy on, easy off my butt! Put it on too thick you say? I'ts on as thin as this thick soup would allow. I just fired up my garage heater that i guess i will leave on all night and pray i can dry this stuff up. Will this eventually cure?
Menz power lock won't dry!
- Thread starter TANTO
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #3
While it's not my full time job, i've been doing this for 40 years. One ALWAYS puts a product on as thin as is humanly possible. I put this on by hand on a foam MF pad. It went on about like a zymol wax. The product is like a thick hand lotion. Would it have gone on thinner with a DA? Maybe, but this product has a cure problem, there was no OPERATOR ERROR here. I kept my garage over 70 degrees all night with the humid now 44%. It's still as it was- gummy/sticky. From what i've read here, if i'ts too thick, that simply means i should have a ton of powder to take off. I have no powder to take off. It doesn't look like it's going to cure- period. I have a call into MenzUS.
ihaveacamaro
New member
- Jun 16, 2012
- 3,048
- 0
Could it be the ceramiclear that new Benz's use?
RhetoricMixes
New member
- Dec 13, 2011
- 1,020
- 0
Silly question but you did shake the bottle very good before using right? I use Menz PL as my main go to sealant and have never had a problem curing except on very high humidity days. did you purchase this bottle from AG?
RhetoricMixes
New member
- Dec 13, 2011
- 1,020
- 0
I never layer as my car sits outside 24/7. PL always give me the look im going for so i after putting it on im done.
Thanks.
I just polished my GF's '08 BoxsterS with Menz IP (spot treatment on some surface scratches) -> Menz FF -> Menz PL and it looks really nice.
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
- Aug 31, 2010
- 17,035
- 1,321
What is that like, going "on about like a Zymol wax"? No offense, 40 years or not, doesn't mean you got the product on thin enough. Did you work it in thoroughly?
Flash Gordon
Well-known member
- Feb 6, 2010
- 11,440
- 457
I hate using Menz products for this very reason. That stuff will work you to death...
snowking724
New member
- Feb 28, 2010
- 724
- 0
The polishes do take a little work but with good results. Never had an issue with PL, it always hazes up and wipes off all dreamy like even applied a little thick.
Mike lambert
New member
- Aug 16, 2011
- 1,128
- 0
Sounds like you got a bad batch,it does happen.
I used Meguiars M205 the first time I put on Powerlock and it never did dry properly. Everyone said do the IPA wipedown because of the oils. I didn't want to do the IPA wipedown so I read up and purchased Chemical Guys EZ Creme Glaze and used that before the Powerlock and have had no problems since then.
- Thread starter
- #18
Yes it was new product, well shaken, and from AG. AG told me i put it on too thick (duh) and if it doesn't dry in 45 minutes to strip it. Bad answer IMO.
"Working" the product does not thin the application. You are NOT rubbing it IN.
It's been reported that Menz polishes do not need to be stripped to remove the oils prior to THEIR LSP's. Maybe it would have dried quicker, but i'd have to do a test to see if stripping the oils which WILL reduce the gloss that the sealant will not replace.
Update - at the 24 hour point, i was able to take it off without too much gumbing and all appears fine. NO powder, gummed up several cloths. There were a few areas where is was able to get a thin coat. These areas were likely good to go at around the 12 hour point. If i hadn't run my garage heater all night, i can't say what would have happened.
Aside from the cure issue, this product is just too thick. I had to keep my thumb under the pad at all times or the pad would not move. As this hurts the ability to get a thin even coat, i had to use a second coat. Since you sort of have to "scrub" this product, i'm wondering if a small wadded up cloth literelly soaked in product might not have done better. I do recall a poster saying he went over the app with a second (dry) MF to even it out. I tried that and it take off just a wee bit, but that area did not cure faster. Seeing as you have to wait so long before apps, that takes a second day.
If i ever get a call back from Menz i'll ask if we can heat the product a little. Maybe that would help at least with the application.
The slickness of the product is top notch, so i'm not writing it off yet. If it lasts as advertised i plan to keep it going on this 09 gray met RDX for awhile. Thanks for the input, i'll report when i get to talk with Menz. I like the 4500 polish A LOT.
"Working" the product does not thin the application. You are NOT rubbing it IN.
It's been reported that Menz polishes do not need to be stripped to remove the oils prior to THEIR LSP's. Maybe it would have dried quicker, but i'd have to do a test to see if stripping the oils which WILL reduce the gloss that the sealant will not replace.
Update - at the 24 hour point, i was able to take it off without too much gumbing and all appears fine. NO powder, gummed up several cloths. There were a few areas where is was able to get a thin coat. These areas were likely good to go at around the 12 hour point. If i hadn't run my garage heater all night, i can't say what would have happened.
Aside from the cure issue, this product is just too thick. I had to keep my thumb under the pad at all times or the pad would not move. As this hurts the ability to get a thin even coat, i had to use a second coat. Since you sort of have to "scrub" this product, i'm wondering if a small wadded up cloth literelly soaked in product might not have done better. I do recall a poster saying he went over the app with a second (dry) MF to even it out. I tried that and it take off just a wee bit, but that area did not cure faster. Seeing as you have to wait so long before apps, that takes a second day.
If i ever get a call back from Menz i'll ask if we can heat the product a little. Maybe that would help at least with the application.
The slickness of the product is top notch, so i'm not writing it off yet. If it lasts as advertised i plan to keep it going on this 09 gray met RDX for awhile. Thanks for the input, i'll report when i get to talk with Menz. I like the 4500 polish A LOT.
02xtreme07SS
New member
- Oct 6, 2011
- 361
- 0
Did you happen to measure the temperature of the panels of the car? I know you mentioned the air temp in the garage, but my suspicion is that the panels on the car were actually a bit cooler than air temp, possibly in the mid to high 50's if air temp was only in the low 60's, unless of course you are using radiant heating. I could see cold panels significantly slowing the cure time and also causing the product to 'gum' up as you were applying it and not spreading as evenly and thin as would be ideal.
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
- Aug 31, 2010
- 17,035
- 1,321
The only product I have ever used that was like this was the original version of Poorboy's EX-P, but even that with proper technique could be applied thinly. I have never heard anyone complain about the application of PowerLock, though.
You say you've been doing this for 40 years, I think I waxed my first car about 38 years ago, so you've got more experience than I do, but when I apply sealants I RUB THEM IN until they are thin enough that the hazing/removal is not a problem. Some sealants (notably ones like Meguiar's NXT, Gold Class, etc.) will streak if you don't "work" them in evenly. I can't speak for other members, but as I said, I generally work LSP's, rather than apply them like a coat of paint.